The Biden administration has made it an outspoken goal to implement new laws and standards that would ultimately lead to reduced carbon emissions. Thus far there have been pushes in all directions to make changes, from the side of automakers manufacturing vehicles to the side of consumers purchasing vehicles. The current leading project is one that focuses on the manufacturing side, as they are working on setting new tailpipe emission standards for gas-powered vehicles. People from all sides of the political sphere have been outspoken on their thoughts of the matter, with some even calling this new set of standards a “de facto electric vehicle mandate.”
The standards are being written up by the Environmental Protection Agency, also known as the EPA.
The EPA sent their current set of standards to the White House Office of Management and Budget to undergo a final review process. Thus far, not every detail regarding the proposed new set of standards has been released, but some aspects are known. One part of the plan consists of a goal in which 67% of all new car sales in the country will be for electric vehicles only by the year 2032. This has easily been the most talked about report to come from the known parts in the EPA’s standards.
One of the biggest voices against the EPA standards is the group of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufactures. They released a statement after news of the EPA goals spread in which they bashed this goal, claiming it will reduce access to vehicles within many people’s needs and budgets if we work toward a country of no gas-powered cars. This is due to the fact that all electric vehicles on the market now are priced at luxury vehicle price points, in which the average American cannot afford.
The group also said, “Lowering the pace of the forced transition would not help consumers or protect our country’s energy security.”
The EPA has released a few counter argument statements at this time. The spokesperson, Timothy Carroll, has merely stated that the agency is continuing on this path towards these goals. He said they are hoping to implement standards that are “readily achievable and secures reductions.”
